Kia Ora Stud were unable to sell Pembrey when she was offered at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale Book 2 last year with a modest $20,000 reserve, but the decision to keep her has proven a good one with the filly leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group III ATC Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

From the second crop of young Kia Ora stallion Prague, Pembrey was sent to leading Queensland trainer Tony Gollan, who produced her for a brilliant first up win at Eagle Farm on February 14 over 1000m.

Dispatched to Sydney after that win for a Golden Slipper tilt, Pembrey had a troubled run when only fifth in the Group II ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes to Spicy Miss two weeks ago with James McDonald in the saddle.

McDonald took the reins again today, but was keen to take luck out of the equation this time and sent her forward to lead.

Pembrey did the rest and cruised home to win by a length and a half over the Waterhouse Bott pair of Lumbini and By Choice.

“She’s still learning isn’t she? Wobbling around, floating there today. She’s nowhere near the finished product but she’s in form and in form at the right time,” said Tony Gollan.

“I think what I’ve seen in the parade today, there’s enough horse there to go again in seven days.”

Pembrey is not entered for the Golden Slipper so connections will have to pay the $150,000 late entry fee for her to run in the $5million feature next Saturday.

“We’ll let Kia Ora make the decision if they want to pay up, we can have a look at her all week and see what we’ve got. She’s a nice filly in form, handles wet or dry, can show good speed so ticks all the boxes,” Gollan said.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s very push-button, 1200m is no worry. I think if she pulls up sound it won’t be a hard decision.”

James McDonald was relieved to return to the winner’s circle after the debacle of her previous start.

“She began a lot cleaner, I was alert to her this time. She began a bit awkwardly last start, I just rode her accordingly,” said McDonald.

“She’s a nice filly, she covers the ground well and she stargazed all the way up the straight, I thought if she was a sitting duck today was the day.

“Obviously I learned a lot, it was a bad ride last start. I’m so happy I can make amends today and Tony (Gollan) was solid by keeping me on. I’m glad I could repay him and the connections because she’s a beautiful filly.”

Bred and retained to race by Kia Ora, Pembrey has two wins from three starts and $197,000 in the bank. She is a half-sister to stakes-placed Amplify and is the first stakes-winner among eight winners from Group II winner Se Saveur, a half-sister by Bel Esprit to Group I SA Derby winner Escado.

Se Saveur has not had a foal since Pembrey and missed last spring.

Pembrey is the first stakes-winner for Prague, who stands at a fee of $11,000 and is a Group-winning son of champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

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